The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has confirmed blocking the website Fan Fiction, which provides a popular online writers forum, following public complaints of obscene content.

A spokesperson for the commission said the site was barred last week after it received feedback about the lewd and explicit nature of its erotic stories.

“MCMC received complaints from the public on the contents of this website.

“Our team made a detailed study and found that there were contents which include obscene scenes from their romance and erotic stories,” said the spokesperson.

He said action was taken in line with Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which deals with improper use of network facilities or network service, including transmission of communication that is obscene or indecent.

Many took to Twitter to post messages objecting to the action, and to voice their confusion and frustration over the move.

Twitter user Gomdora said on Fan Fiction’s Twitter page, FictionPress that he did not understand why the site was blocked and questioned if it was due to copyright infringement.

Cereal ATA called the move “ridiculous”. “I haven’t posted there for a long time, but it still pisses me off to no end,” read the tweet.

According to a tweet from Fan Fiction, Malaysia was the second country after Indonesia to have blocked the website.

“Malaysia has joined Indonesia as the only two countries on earth that have blocked access to http://FanFiction.Net,” read the tweet.

Early last month, MCMC blocked the website of gaming provider Steam after it failed to comply with its call to disable downloads of the video game “Fight of Gods”, which depicted battles between fighters including religious figures like Jesus and Buddha, in Malaysia within 24 hours.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak had said the action was necessary to protect users and to prevent untoward incidents.

“(To ensure) solidarity, harmony and the well-being of the multiracial and multi-religious people in the country are the main objectives of the government.

“The government will not compromise with any action that can jeopardise these objectives,” he had said on Sept 8.

The order was however rescinded the next day when Steam adhered to the request and disabled the download of the game in Malaysia. ■